Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives

Warlock Ch 355. High Standards

Cedric's eyes flickered toward the glass, his interest piqued. "A professional blood bartender?"

Damian shrugged. "I mix drinks for the undead. Specialized concoctions tailored to different blood types, magical influences, and personal taste." He glanced at Victoria. "And she has very high standards."

Selena, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke, her voice quieter, more measured. "I see…" Her eyes lingered on Damian just a bit longer than necessary before she exhaled, shifting her posture. "Regardless, we didn't come here for food."

Damian tilted his head slightly, watching her carefully. He knew that look.

"Yeah," he murmured. "I figured."

Cedric cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Then you know why we're here."

Damian met his gaze steadily. "I can guess. But I'd rather you tell us directly."

Cedric paused, folding his hands together neatly. He looked calm on the surface, but Damian caught the slight twitch of his jaw.

"I assume you've heard what happened," Cedric began quietly, his eyes flickering across the room, taking in everyone's expressions. "Edward died a few days ago."

Cassius glanced away briefly, Evelyn's shoulders stiffened, and Victoria just stared, expression unreadable. Damian felt his own jaw tighten.

Cedric continued softly. "It was tragic. We were too late to pick him up. This place's bureaucracy is disgusting. They deliberately stalled us, throwing every bit of red tape they could in our way."

Damian's voice hardened slightly. "Yeah. I hear that." He knew the frustration Cedric spoke of. The Council, with its endless layers of power and politics, had never made things easy—especially for outsiders. They'd do anything to protect their own interests, even at the expense of someone's life.

Selena's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to speak. Her eyes finally locked onto Damian's. But before she could get the words out, Cedric placed a gentle hand on her arm, giving a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head.

It was Cedric who spoke again, his voice steadier than Damian expected. "Also… I'm sure you're aware of what happened last night."

Damian felt everyone's gazes snap onto him, sharp and knowing. He didn't flinch, simply tilting his head slightly. "You're going to have to be more specific."

Cedric's mouth curled faintly at the edges, a hint of amusement slipping through the seriousness. "The attack on the three Council members last night." He paused, watching Damian closely. "Was that you guys?"

Damian felt Evelyn tense beside him, Victoria's crimson eyes narrowing slightly, while Cassius merely lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. Damian met Cedric's gaze, expression deliberately neutral. "Is that question really necessary?"

Cedric didn't back down, holding Damian's stare. "Yes. And no." He exhaled slowly, leaning forward slightly, voice dropping into something more sincere, less guarded. "Look, I understand you'd rather keep it under wraps. I get it. But I need to know if we're on the same side here. There are bigger forces at play, powerful people involved. You did what you had to do—it's kill or be killed, right?"

Damian felt his chest tighten. Cedric wasn't wrong.

"Maybe," Damian finally admitted. "But what exactly do you want from us?"

Cedric hesitated, clearly weighing how much to say. He glanced briefly toward Selena, who watched Damian with barely concealed concern. She looked ready to intervene, her expression tight with worry. Cedric drew in a breath, his shoulders stiffening.

"I need witnesses," Cedric said slowly, clearly reluctant to admit it. "The council members were conspiring. They weren't just targeting random people—they were planning to kill Selena, specifically."

He paused again, eyes briefly flicking downward, voice quieter. "And me."

"So," Damian finally broke the silence, voice calm but edged with quiet danger. "You want us to openly admit we killed three Rank S magi in cold blood—to save your life?"

Cedric shook his head slightly, leaning back in his chair, sighing softly. "No. Not openly, anyway. But we need to at least privately acknowledge the facts. They targeted Selena for a reason. Someone inside the Council orchestrated this. They saw Selena as a threat, and wanted her dead." His gaze turned darker, harder. "If they succeeded, it would've plunged the fae kingdom into chaos. That was their goal."

"And what exactly do you plan to do now?" Damian asked quietly, eyes locked onto Cedric's, reading every nuance of his expression.

"Expose their plan," Cedric said firmly. "Or at least, enough of it to send a message. The conspirators will hesitate if they know someone's onto them."

Cassius nodded slowly. "It's a bold move. Dangerous, too."

"Dangerous," Selena echoed quietly, finally speaking. Her voice was softer, gentler than Cedric's. Her gaze returned to Damian, holding his eyes firmly now, determination and worry tangled together. "But we can't just hide and hope they give up. Not after what we've already seen."

Damian regarded her quietly, feeling the intensity in her stare, the sincerity behind her words. Selena had always been earnest—sometimes painfully so—but right now, he admired her courage. And maybe, just maybe, he felt something else too.

"Fine," Damian said softly, exhaling slowly as he leaned back, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders. "We'll help you."

Cedric's eyes widened slightly in surprise, before settling into cautious relief. Selena's face brightened immediately, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks before she quickly looked away, embarrassed at her own reaction. Damian suppressed a faint smile.

"Then we have an understanding," Cedric said firmly, offering a genuine, grateful nod. "Thank you."

"Don't thank us yet," Victoria drawled lazily, breaking the heaviness in the air. "Knowing Damian, he'll probably start another fight before we even finish talking."

Damian glared at her playfully. "You're not helping."

Victoria grinned smugly. "I rarely do."

Cassius snorted, shaking his head with mock exasperation.

Evelyn merely rolled her eyes, a reluctant smile forming despite herself.

Damian's gaze settled once more on Selena. She'd grown quiet again, her cheeks still tinged faintly pink, eyes lingering on his for just a moment too long.

He allowed himself to hold her stare a bit longer than he normally would, acknowledging what he saw there.

A small warmth sparked in his chest at the sight—something fragile, hesitant, yet quietly hopeful.